Page 27

“That's what happens when anyone threatens my family, Alpha.”

I hold his gaze. He truly is alpha blooded. His pulse doesn’t spike. His scent doesn’t shift. The wolf behind his eyes is calm, not tamed, not broken, just certain. The kind of certainty that doesn’t need posture.

Now this is what a Beta should be. A pack is a family. I wonder if he would protect our pack as fiercely as he protects his family.

“But he’s a rogue. I can’t allow a rogue to be my Beta. Even if he was already trained for it.”

Stupid human. Make him Beta, we get more time with mate… and give mate a pup.

“Stupid Lycan. He's not the right one.”

“I don’t trust rogues. Rogues killed my first mate… Aren’t all rogues the same?”

“I’m sorry for your loss… Some rogues… are like… mercenaries… they do anything for money, Alpha.” His red eyes gleam with hatred. A hatred for rogues. Isn’t he a rogue?

Well he was a former pack wolf…

Daryl was arrogant, like my little brother Ronan, except Daryl’s better at playing innocent… a loving Alpha heir... character doesn't change overnight. Five years ago I overheard talks that the council wanted one of Daryl's younger brothers to become alpha instead. But from what this rogue is telling me that was never an option.

“Aren’t all rogues the same?”

“No, just like pack wolves have a ranking, so do rogues. The most feral is at the bottom, Alpha.”

“Can you list the ranking?”

“Can you give me a piece of paper and a pen, Alpha.”

“What else can you tell me about the rogues?”

“What do you want to know, Alpha?”

“Everything.”

“Okay. Alpha.” I smile. He’s showing submission, compliance, and respect. My Lycan's right, if I don't let them stay I'll have a fight with Selena. She and her Lycan's already claimed this family as hers. I'll let them stay but keep someone monitoring them. Maybe Derek and Marcus.

“Stand up.” He stands. I open the door. The corridor is empty except for Selena, leaning against the far wall with her arms crossed, her dark hair falling loose around her shoulders. She straightens slowly and I take in the sight of my mate. Her long legs, her hips, her waist, her... Moon Goddess if I didn’t have to be Alpha, I could take my mate right now. We really need to have a pup so that I can pass him the Alpha title and be with my mate more.

My thoughts are interrupted when Darian says, “Where are they?” Darian’s voice cracks on the second word. “My family. Where...”

“They’re already settling into their new house.” Selena smiles. Warm. Easy. The kind of smile that doesn’t ask permission but makes me melt every time. Darian stops. His feet plant on the stone floor like roots finding bedrock. “New house?”

DARIAN’S POV

Alpha Rylan crosses the corridor in three strides. He doesn’t look at me. Doesn’t check with me. He walks to Luna Selena, bends, and presses his lips to her forehead, gentle, unhurried, the kiss of a man who does this the way other men breathe. “Of course you did,” he says against her skin.

“They’ve been through enough today.” Luna Selena’s hand comes up to rest against his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.

“I know.” Alpha Rylan straightens. His hand stays on the small of her back, thumb tracing a slow circle through the cotton.

I watch them. They probably can see the confusion moving across my face in real time, the way my brow furrows, the way my gaze flicks between Alpha Rylan and Luna Selena like I’m trying to solve an equation that keeps changing its variables.

My father’s voice is in there somewhere. I can almost hear it… ” An Alpha makes the final decision. Everyone runs every decision through the Alpha first. Even his Luna must have his permission.” It’s one of the reasons I never wanted to be Alpha. No one should take my mate’s voice and choices away from her. Not even me.

Luna Selena doesn’t wait for Alpha Rylan to decide. She decides on her own. She turns and starts walking. Alpha Rylan follows behind me, probably waiting for his Luna.

The house sits at the edge of the residential quarter… two stories, cedar siding, a porch that wraps around the front. Smoke curls from the chimney. The windows glow warm against the dark. Luna Selena knocks, Arlene says, “Come in.” Alpha Rylan opens the door. The smell hits me first. Bread. Fresh bread, and soup… still warm, the kind that fills a kitchen the way light fills a room. Beneath it… soap, clean linen, the faint sweetness of something baking that I can’t name. I’ve forgotten the name.

I step inside and the room swallows me whole.